Strut members and connector rings with imperforate pierceable walls

ABSTRACT

A construction kit embodying both elongate struts and ring shaped connectors enabling the construction of various designs and model structures. The connector rings are of a pliable material permitting the elongate struts to be conveniently inserted therein with the strut being subsequently positionable with respect to its angular relationship with the connector. Connector rings may be used in a combined manner for achieving further connector flexibility.

United States Paten n91" Seubert STRUT MEMBERS AND CONNECTOR RINGS WITHIMPERFORATE PIERCEABLE WALLS [76] Inventor: Frederick J. Seubert, Rt. 3,Box

480, Eugene, Oreg. 92405 [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:218,309

Related U.S.'Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.105,054, Jan. 8,

1971, abandoned.

[52] 11.8. C1. 46/29, 35/18 A, [51] int. Cl A63h 33/10 [58] Field ofSearch 46/29, 31; 35/18 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,996,832 8/1961 Rubin 46/26 x 2,765,580 10/1956 HEI'ISChafK 46/29 x2,052,457 8/1936 French 451 Apr. 23, 1974 3,455,049 7/1969 Dyer et a1.46/29 X 3,224,136 12/1965 Moryl 3,432,960 3/1969 Bombaci 46/29 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 344,665 3/1960 Switzerland 46/29 832,736 7/1938France 49/29 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Eugene D. Farley [57] ABSTRACT A construction kit embodying bothelongate struts and ring shaped connectors enabling; the construction ofvarious designs and model structures. The connector rings are of apliable material permitting the elongate struts to be convenientlyinserted therein with the strut being subsequently positionable withrespect to its angular relationship with the connector. Connector ringsmay be used in a combined manner for achieving further connectorflexibility.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures STRUT .MEMBERS AND CONNECTOR RINGS WITHIMPERFORATE PIERCEABLE WALLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending U. S. patentapplication Ser. No. 105,054 filed Jan. 8, 1971, now abandoned.

' The present invention relates generally to a construction kitcomprising elongate structural members with flexible ring shapedconnectors provided to enable the user to construct a wide variety ofthree dimensional designs or model structures. Well-known in the art areconstruction kits having wooden strut components with the connectorstherefor being in the form of multiapertured wooden discs withconstruction restricted to definite angular relationships betweenadjacent struts.

Further, thenumber of struts joined by the connectors- SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The instant invention is embodiedwithin a construction kithaving pliable connector rings permitting the joining of the kits strutmembers'in most any desired angular relationship. Accordingly, a widevariety of small scale structures and designs may be assembled.

Geometric designs, scalemodels as well as geodesic,

structures may be readily assembled from the instant kit. Each elongatestrut member is securely retained in place by engagement at its endswiththe kits connectors resulting in a rigid structure when completedwithout the undesirable use of glue or other adhesive. Accordingly, theinserted ends of the kits strut members may be repeatedly engaged with aconnector as many times and at various angles as is necessary to achievethe current design or structure being assembled. The nature of thematerial used for the ring-like connectors lends itself to-being easilypenetrated or pierced by the strut ends with the same being retained bythe gripping action of the penetrated connector material. Further, theinserted strut may thereafter be angularly adjusted with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the connector. Pointing of the strut endsfacilitates connector-strut engagement with an awl component of the kitbeing included for use in forming of a pilot opening in the connector.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide aconstruction kit capable of serving educational as well as recreationalpurposes. Students throughout a wide range of ages find the kit highlyconvenient for the forming of both geometric and geodesic forms forschool projects as well as for their own enjoyment. Still others findthe present construction kit useful in that it provides an outlet forthe exercise of creative talents by reason of the many structural formspossible with the kit components.

An-additionally important object of low original cost wherein thecomponents are of a reusable nature permitting repeated disassembly ofstructures formed and the re-assembly into other structures. Along thisline it is to be noted that no special tools or equipment, cement orbonding agent is necessary as the connectors being of plastic stockexert a firm gripping action on the struts of the kit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG, 1 is a view ofa fragmentary portion ofa geodesic structureconstructed from the present kit,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1 showing atypical arrangement of ring shaped connectors and struts,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational. view of a connector ring,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a connector ring receivingstrut ends and illustrating the versatile capability of the connector,

. FIG. 5 shows an awl component of the kit,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of connector andstrut,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a pair of ring connectors one of whichis collapsed for retention within an outer ring connector, 7

FIG. 8 is an elevationalview of joined connector rings, and l FIG. 9 isa view of a modified strut end segment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continuing reference tothe above drawing wherein applied reference numerals indicate partssimilarlyidentified in the following specification, the referencenumeral10 indicates connector ring components of the kit. Included within thekit are a quantity of elongate struts indicated at 11 each being of auniform length for each kit. Typically, kits marketed comprise from200to 400 pieces with a uniform strut length of a kit ranging from 2 up to6 inches. For the sake of convenience and low production costs thestruts may be in the form of colored, double tapered wooden memberswidely marketed for various culinary purposes. Obviously other suitablematerials may be used for the struts with the only requirement being adegree of rigidity. Further, if desired, the shapes and sizes of strutscould be varied as the connector 10 is capable of receiving variouscross-sectional shapes and sizes.

With particular attention to FIGS. 2 through 4, wherein details of theconnector rings 10 are disclosed, each ring comprises a flexible,pierceable, annularly walled member surrounding and defining the axialbore of the ring, said member being formed from a flexible resinousplastic such as a soft vinyl with one suitable embodiment of a connectorhaving an outside diameter of one-half inch and a wall thickness ofapproximately one sixteenth of an inch. The vinyl material used may beof the type commonly referred to as soft vinyl in the trade as of thetype used in the manufacture of flexible tubing. The width (axialdimension) of the sleeve may also be varied with a suitable width beingapproximately three eighths of an inch with ring width somewhatdependent upon the cross sectional area of the inserted strut end. Theextremely pliable nature of the connector is such that slightdeformation of the connector will occur upon piercing insertion of thestrut end as best viewed in FIG. 4. With continuing reference to FIG. 4,it will be seen that the struts position may be other than normal to theaxis A of the connector ring and similarly may project outwardly anddownwardly in other than a true radial relationship to said axis of theconnector. As is readily apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, in the connectorshown therein the circumference of the bore, that is, the internalcircumference of the wall, exceeds six times the diameter of the strutends, thereby enabling at least six struts to be inserted into theconnector in about the same transverse plane.

A modified form of the kit may include struts of uniform length whichmay have blunted ends as seen on modified struts 12 in FIG. 6. For easeof strutconnector engagement an awl 13 (FIG. 5) is provided forconveniently piercing the annular wall to form pilot openings in theconnector. In cases where the strut components are blunt ended,obviously a pilot hole is required. The connectors may also be varied,with a modified form indicated at 14 in FIG. 6. The modified form of theconnector ring is of greater diameter than the connector first describedand formed from a somewhat less flexible resinous plastic. Withattention again to the struts 12 the same may be flexible wood memberspermitting, if desired, some curvature in the integrated strut members.

In FIG. 7, I disclose one form of engagement between connector ring andstrut wherein the strut projects outwardly through the flexibleconnector ring wall. The greater the flexibility of the ring materialthe greater the angularity possible between the strut and the wall ofthe ring.

In FIG. 8, a pair of connectors are joined one within the other, aspermitted by the flexible nature of the rings. The inner ring iscollapsed by fingertip pressure for insertion into the outer ring withthe inner ring held in place by biased frictional engagement with theouter ring by reason of the inner rings inherent tendency to return toits annular configuration. Struts may thereafter be inserted in theouter ring or the exposed portion of the inner, collapsed ring.

In use, a structure or design is progressively assembled with a singleconnector initially supporting inserted strut ends. The number of strutsinserted and the angular relationship of same to one another and theconnector will be determined, of course, by the geometric design orthree dimensional structure being built. Each strut, subsequent toinitial engagement with a connector, may be swung in an arcuate mannerabout its connector attachment point thereby allowing for corrections tobe made during assembly without requiring removal and re-insertion of astrut. If necessary, the latter may be readily accomplished as the strutis readily separable from its connector ring.

If desired the blunt ended struts may be provided withan annular recessor groove as at 12A in FIG. 9 which groove serves to receive thesurrounding perforated wall of the connector ring. The groove provides amore secure connection between the ring 14 and the end segment of themodified strut l2.

While I have shown but a few embodiments of the invention it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodiedstill otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention what is desired to be secured undera Letters Patent is:

l. A construction kit from which three dimensional model structures maybe assembled, said kit comprising,

a. elongate strut members each having end segments for passage in aradial manner through an annular wall of a connector ring, and

b. connector rings for interconnecting said multiple strut members indesired angular relationship, each of said connector rings being of aflexible synthetic resinous material and having a flexible, imperforate,annular wall surrounding and defining an axial bore whose circumferenceexceeds six times the diameter of said strut end segments, said wallbeing pierceable to provide openings therethrough for grippinglyreceiving strut end segments, the flexible nature of the annular wallpermitting distortion of circumferentially spaced apart wall areas sothat when said wall is so pierced and said strut ends are received insuch pierced openings, each strut member may be swung in an arcuatemanner about its ring attachment point to alter angular relationship ofsaid strut member to the ring and to other strut members,

c. at least some of said strut member end segments having means forfacilitating connector-strut member engagement when a pilot opening inthe connector is used, and for making an opening in said wall when apilot opening is not used.

2. The construction kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strut membershave pointed end segments facilitating wall penetration.

ings in the connector rings.

1. A construction kit from which three dimensional model structures maybe assembled, said kit comprising, a. elongate strut members each havingend segments for passage in a radial manner through an annular wall of aconnector ring, and b. connector rings for interconnecting said multiplestrut members in desired angular relationship, each of said connectorrings being of a flexible synthetic resinous material and having aflexible, imperforate, annular wall surrounding and defining an axialbore whose circumference exceeds six times the diameter of said strutend segments, said wall being pierceable to provide openingstherethrough for grippingly receiving strut end segments, the flexiblenature of the annular wall permitting distortion of circumferentiallyspaced apart wall areas so that when said wall is so pierced and saidstrut ends are received in such pIerced openings, each strut member maybe swung in an arcuate manner about its ring attachment point to alterangular relationship of said strut member to the ring and to other strutmembers, c. at least some of said strut member end segments having meansfor facilitating connector-strut member engagement when a pilot openingin the connector is used, and for making an opening in said wall when apilot opening is not used.
 2. The construction kit as claimed in claim 1wherein said strut members have pointed end segments facilitating wallpenetration.
 3. The construction kit as claimed in claim 1 additionallyincluding a pointed tool for forming pilot openings in the connectorrings.